Ordnance



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. J BNO.

APPARATUS FOR FIRING ORDNANOE.

(No Model.)

No. 325,544. Pategued Sept. 1, 1885.

N PETERS. PMnLnbognphen wmm mn. D. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. JENO. A

APPARATUS FOR FIRING ORDNANGE.

No. 325,544. Patented Sept. 1, 1885.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHANN JENG, OF POLA, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

APPARATUS FOR FIRING ORDNANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 325,544, dated September 1, 1885.

Application filed February 19, 1855. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHANN J ENC, a subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, and a resident of Pola, in Austria-Hungary, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Firing Ordnance, of which the following is a specificition.

This invention has for its object, first, a complete gas-tight closure of the firingchamber of the gun on firing; secondly, the use of friction or electric igniters; and, thirdly, to insure greater simplicity, rapidity, and also safety in firing.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows the firing mechanism, partly in section and partly in elevation, broken off. Fig. 2 shows a side view of the upper end thereof. Figs. 3 and 4 are views of the outer end in two different positions. Figs. 5 to 14 show details, Figs. 1 to 13 being in elevation, and Fig. 14 in section. Figs. 15 and 16 show the mechanism with inserted friction igniter or electric igniter. Fig. 17 shows the frictionigniter. Figs. 1 to 16 are about full size, and Fig. 17 is shown to double the scale.

The firing mechanism consists, principally, of the screwed piece A, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7, and the cover B, screwed onto the same.

The screwed pieceA is arranged as follows: On both sides of the collar a is a screwed piece, of which the front one, v, has an angular thread, while the batik one, 71, has a trapezoidal thread. The front piece, t, is concentric with the collar a. The back one, h, is, however, eccentric throughout. The entire piece is bored through in the direction of the geometrical axis of the collar to a diameter corresponding with the outer diameter of the touch-hole plug, and it is screwed with the angular screw-thread into a corresponding female thread in the breech of the gun to such an extent that the collar bears firmly against the latter, and that at the same time the end of the touch-hole plug is backward of the face of the part h to the extent of only .01 of an inch. The touch-hole of the touch-hole plug 0, Fig. 1, is enlarged at the rear end to a diameter corresponding with the diameter of theigniter-tube. On the outer face of the collar a is situated a curved springcatch, f, Figs. 2, 7,12, 13, and 14, fitting in a corresponding recess and pivoting at one end on a screw, while at the movable end it is provided with a stopped head, 1', which is guided by means of a cylindrical stud, w, in a corresponding groove of the collar. Lastly, there are provided on the edge of the collar a two geometrically-opposite semicircular notches 1" r for the purpose of being screwed and unscrewed by means of a key. One of these notches can also be utilized for introducing the fixing-screw which secures the screwed piece in position.

The cover B, Figs. 5 and 6, is constructed as follows: It is cylindrical and forms, as above stated, the nut of the rear screwed piece, h. The head of the same has a curved opening, Z, eccentric to the axis and narrowed toward one end. This opening I is so arranged that when the cover is completely screwed on the center of the narrow end of the opening corresponds with the geometrical axis of the bore of the screwed piece-that is to say, with the bore of the touch-hole. If, on the other hand, the cover is turned ninety degrees out of this position, the center of thelarge end of the opening corresponds with the said axis. In addition the cover has at the side an elbow-shaped handle, 2', pivoted to it, as shown at Figs. 3, 4, 10, and 11, and which is curved on its outer surface. The pin u, Figs. 8 and 9, has ahemispherical head at one end, and is formed with a hook at the other end. The cover has also two side notches, m and n, of which the first is semicircular and situated exactly underneath the pivot of the handle. The latter, on the other hand, is extended and formed with an incline, and is situated ninety degrees from m. Lastly, it is to be observed that the outer edges of the opening Z are slightly rounded, while the inner edges are only beveled off at the larger end of the opening.

The mode of operating with this apparatus is as follows: At Fig. 4 it is shown in the open position. The cover B is in this position screwed onto the piece A to within ninety degrees of the full turn. The openingZ is situated with its larger end concentric with the touchhole of the touch-hole plug. The head k of the spring rests against semicircular side of 100 the incline w. of the cover, and prevents this from being screwed on further; and the handle i is situated in respect of the axial plane of the gun to the right hand at top. If, now,

the igniter is introduced through the hole Z into the touch-hole, and cover is then turned 5 by means of the handle in the same direction as that of the hands of a watch to the extent of ninety degrees, the apparatus is in the closed position, Fig. 3. Bythis means, namely, the narrow end of the opening Z is brought over the head of the igniter, the cover rests with its inner face firmly against the latter, the head is of the spring restsin a corresponding notch m of the cover and prevents, on the one hand, the unscrewing thereof, and at the same time prevents the cover from being screwed on too tightly; and, lastly, the handle rests with its link S, Figs. and 11, loosely against the curved face 19 of the spring-head k.

For the purpose of firing, the igniter shown at Fig. has attached to its loop H, which projects through the hole I, an ordinary firingline provided with a hook with electric igniters. On the other hand, the electrode-wire projecting through the hole Z is connected to the contact-screw fixed on the gun in an insulated manner. After firing the cover is turned by means of the handle in the contrary direction to that above described for the purpose of removing the casing of the igniter. By moving the handle downward and laterally for this purpose the spring-head k is moved out of the notch m in consequence of the pressure on the rounded back, and as, in consequence of the motion of the cover, the springcatch f is freed from the link S of the handle the cover will, on the completion of a quarter-revolution, be immediately stopped by the head It entering the notch n. In this position of the cover, as above stated, the large end of the opening I is concentric with the touch-hole, from which consequently the igniter-tube can be withdrawn by means of the loop.

The lmproved friction-igniter, which is arranged on firing to effect the perfect gas-tight closure of the touch-hole, is constructed as follows: The outer brass casing, D, which is cylindrical and which has a hole through its hollowed end, has inserted into it an inner casing, E, open at both ends and formed in its front half with a throat. In this latter is situated the friction-wire H, passing through the same and formed into a loop, H, at its outer end, while at its inner end it has a notched frictional surface. At a certain distance below this surface the wire has a cylindrical enlargement or piston, 1, having a circular groove, 2, and which on its outer end is formed hemispherically corresponding to the hollowed end of the casing D. The front face of the piston rests against the before-mentioned throat of the inner casing, to which it is secured by means of a bulge, 3, on the former taking in o the groove 2. Within the front end of the inner casing is situated the capsule G, containing the firing-charge, and which rests with its inner end against the throat of the casing E. The capsule G is formed of copper and has a firing-charge consisting of equal parts of chlorate of potash and sulphide of antimony. Lastly, the remaining space of the outer casing is filled with an igniting-charge consisting of finely-pow. dered gunpowder, rammed in tight, inclosed at the outer end by means of a card-board disk, and above this by a metal cap. The igniter is inserted by means of the wire H into the touch-hole of the firing mechanism, and after closing the latter, as described, and hooking the firing-cord to the wire, the cord is pulled sharply, whereby the bulge 3 of the inner casing, E, is forced back so as to release the piston and allow it to be drawn back into the 'hollowed end of the casing D, which it closes in a gas-tight manner. At the same time the frictional surface of the wire is drawn into the igniting-charge, and the firingis thus effected.

I claim 1. In an igniter for ordnance, the combination, with an exterior metallic casing and an interior casing adapted to contain an ignitingcharge, of a wire fastened to or formed integral with an enlargement or piston fitting within said interior casing and passing 9 5 through a hole in the end of the exterior casing, whereby, when theigniting-charge is discharged, the said piston or enlargement will close the hole through which said wire passes, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the exterior casing, D, and the interior casing, E, fitting within said exterior casing and provided with a head, 3, wit-h the wire H, and the enlargement or piston 1, having a groove, 2, all constructed and arranged substantially as described.

3. In a device for firing ordnance, the combination, with a gun having an opening in its breech for the introduction of an igniter, and a movable cap adapted to cover said opening, in which cap is a hole for the passage of the igniter-wire, of an igniter consisting of a casing adapted to contain the igniting-charge and a wire for exploding the same, all constructed and arranged substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHANN JENO.

Witn esses:

COSTANTINO MAGRELLI, ANGELO VATTA. 

